Salem Painter Electrocuted After Contacting Live Wires

SALEM (CBS) – A painter in Salem was killed Tuesday when the aerial lift he was using became entangled in nearby electrical wires.

The man, later identified as 59-year-old James Kennedy, was painting window sills on the side of the fire station on Loring Avenue in a metal lift when he was electrocuted around 3 p.m.

"All of a sudden I just heard a loud pop and I saw a huge flame in the basket with a guy in it and then I just saw him collapse," said Jenny Correia.

Workers had to wait for National Grid to turn the power off so they could help Kennedy, who was stuck in the electrified metal basket.

Firefighters were eventually able to pull him out.

"They had to bring the ladder up to the basket to be able to get his body out," said Correia.

Kennedy was unconscious when he was brought to the hospital, but he did not survive.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident.